Kia Reveals the All-New, 2014 Forte

[timmy222]

This is still a very nice looking car by Kia

But still worried in the direction Kia is heading. The cars they released early in the decade where very strong designs. But their last couple of releases look very modern (K9/Rio/Forte) but at the same time a bit soft or Blobby if thats the word I'm looking for.

[CP1]

the new KOUP will look nice.

I really hope the Koup keeps its more square/angular shape, but probably won't happen.

Chevy Cruze wins that award, IMO.

Really?

The Cruze had the same problem as the current Forte sedan, already looking outdated the moment it launched w/ a nondescript greenhouse, those weird headlamp shape and equally weird taillights.

Cruze has actual styling. The Kia is just a blob of nothingness. The front is odd, the rear is odd, the down curve on the side opposite the roof line is really strange. Somehow it manages to pull together without looking too bad, but it has no real styling. It's like someone put the 'generate curve' bit on random and out popped this Kia.

Most GM fanboys don't even like the Cruze sedan (looks much better in hatch form tho).

This is still a very nice looking car by Kia

But still worried in the direction Kia is heading. The cars they released early in the decade where very strong designs. But their last couple of releases look very modern (K9/Rio/Forte) but at the same time a bit soft or Blobby if thats the word I'm looking for.

I agree.

Aside from the cee'd, Kia designers are moving away from the clean, but aggressive lines and doing too much stuff that just clutters up and softens the design.

[DJMRDARK]

This is still a very nice looking car by Kia

But still worried in the direction Kia is heading. The cars they released early in the decade where very strong designs. But their last couple of releases look very modern (K9/Rio/Forte) but at the same time a bit soft or Blobby if thats the word I'm looking for.

That sounds like Toyota actually.

[CP1]

That sounds like Toyota actually.

Actually, sounds more like BMW (from pre-Bangle to now).

[Troike]

Best looking car in the segment by far

I am an automotive racist and I wholeheartedly agree

Kia has been running ads nonstop (edit: optima, my bad .. 2014? I hate this sh*t ) for months on local TV, almost to the point I want to recommend the car to my new-compact-shopping family (who apparently won't buy a Kia no matter what). Based on previous models, I can't blame them.

Front to back the Cruze is a single flowing work. This Forte is just a mishmash of random curves that have no relationship to each other...
It is boring because it's the #1 seller and you see them often? If so that's not a design problem, and actually opposite of your claim.

I might have seen 1 cruze on the road, ever. Is it seriously #1? if so must be fleets/middle-America.
Or is this 1-month member with no listed vehicle just a junior sales associate at Chevy

[Maxvla]

Really?

The Cruze had the same problem as the current Forte sedan, already looking outdated the moment it launched w/ a nondescript greenhouse, those weird headlamp shape and equally weird taillights.

Most GM fanboys don't even like the Cruze sedan (looks much better in hatch form tho).

I love the headlamps. Gives it character that a lot of cars are missing these days. Trying to appeal to too many markets gives you bland design.

Oh and the hatchback Cruze is vomit inducing. Awful. Sedan is FAR better.

[Maxvla]

I might have seen 1 cruze on the road, ever. Is it seriously #1? if so must be fleets/middle-America.
Or is this 1-month member with no listed vehicle just a junior sales associate at Chevy

I see them all the time here, and no I don't work for Chevy. I'm actually a violin luthier, but have been shopping for a new affordable small car and the Cruze diesel is one I'm considering when it comes out early 2013. Really liked the Golf TDI, but the price is higher than I'm willing to pay. If the Cruze diesel ends up costing more than $23k I'll probably eliminate that as well. Too bad though cause diesel is fun to play with and gets good mileage.

I test drove a Kia Rio 5 door and was not impressed. It was better than I expected, but still very loud and I never could get the seat and steering wheel at a comfortable position. The gas and brake pedals had a lot of play until they engaged and when they did, they went into full effect for a somewhat jarring driving experience.

So I saw the Forte thread and was interested and that's why I'm here.

[nickthaskater]

I love the headlamps. Gives it character that a lot of cars are missing these days. Trying to appeal to too many markets gives you bland design.

Oh and the hatchback Cruze is vomit inducing. Awful. Sedan is FAR better.

So to whom do you think GM was trying to make the Cruze appeal, you know, given that it's sold all over the world..?

Chalk me up as one that finds the 5-door Cruze far better looking than the sedan, but the front end still kills it overall for me.

[Maxvla]

So to whom do you think GM was trying to make the Cruze appeal, you know, given that it's sold all over the world..?

Chalk me up as one that finds the 5-door Cruze far better looking than the sedan, but the front end still kills it overall for me.

Maybe markets isn't the right word. Demographics is better. The Cruze front won't work for everyone and that's why I can really like it and you really don't. The difference is the Forte is just bland to anyone. Nobody hates it or loves it, it's just there without style.

The Cruze 5 door looks like they cut off part of the car. I look at it and wonder where the rest of it went. Aggressive front end but with it's balls cut off. Just looks awful. Think Dodge Charger hatchback.. same feeling. I know the Cruze isn't a pony car, but the front end reminds me of one.

[FULLOFGLI]

I'm not a fan of the Forte. Seeing the 5-door Cruze, however, is pretty neat.

[nickthaskater]

The difference is the Forte is just bland to anyone. Nobody hates it or loves it, it's just there without style.

There are more than a few replies in this thread alone that prove you wrong.

[slide13]

Cruze is stuck in 2008.
Really curious how the 2 door is going to look..

do you want me to throw some leds on it for you to appreciate the car?

[Maxvla]

There are more than a few replies in this thread alone that prove you wrong.

People who like vanilla cars, I guess. I'm not interested in Kia's attempt to average every design from every manufacturer to create some homogenized car with no style of it's own.

[WhitePoloCT]

I'm a little disappointed with this new Forte, but only because the previous gen bucked the massive front headlight trend. The current Koup is a very handsome car on the outside, so I have high expectations for the new version.

[Dr. Woo]

I think it looks great. As pretty much every single post has mentioned, it seems derivative, but I think it's a good kind of derivative. Sharp, and better-looking than its Hyundai cousin.

[cryption]

Can't wait to see how this thing behaves on the road

[Moodyblues]

With they offer it in a GT/hatch variant?

[OldsPowered]

Oh come on...the downward swoop in the lower door skins is right off of BMW. The greenhouse is also BMW derived. The Hoffmeister bend is a staple of BMW sedan design. Overall, I think it comes off as trying too hard to be stylish. As far as Saturn goes, I just see some Astra in the headlamp, front 1/4 view. The Focus tails are Chinese class ripoff.

The Cruze may not have all the 'exciting' curves of the Kia, but its design at least makes sense. I'm not saying the Cruze is a great looking car, but its a much cleaner execution.

And the Hoffmeister bend was used on the 1951 Kaiser Dragon before BMW:


Pretty much there are no new automotive designs if you pick it apart that that level.

The new Forte also has electric headlights, which were obviously stolen from the 1898 Columbia Automobile electric car.

[BODH1]

Why hello there mini-optima.

[AdrockMK2]

And the Hoffmeister bend was used on the 1951 Kaiser Dragon before BMW.

Pretty much there are no new automotive designs if you pick it apart that that level.

The new Forte also has electric headlights, which were obviously stolen from the 1898 Columbia Automobile electric car.

[Wimbledon]

How the Koup may look:

http://www.theophiluschin.com/?p=4232

[Dr. Woo]

That Koup rendering is sharp!

[Avus]

I would much rather have this than the current Civic or Corolla.

^^ never sit in a current civic, drive a current corolla and SURE not sit in and driven a new Forte.

[2.0T_Convert]

Current coupe (Koup) is better.

[Shmi]

Current coupe (Koup) is better.

Have to agree here, by far.

[1985Jetta]

I like the Cruze and Elantra better than this, but I'd drive a Forte over a Dart.

[Volvo_D]

too much hyundai in the design...was hoping this would be what the optima is to the sonota...

[WhitePoloCT]

Current coupe (Koup) is better.

x3

[rlaltiowner05]

too much hyundai in the design...was hoping this would be what the optima is to the sonota...

Yea, I find it rather conservative myself, was expecting something more "WOW" but its nicer than the current car. I just wish we got the Cee'd...I LOVE that car.

[someguy123]

Stll hasn't won me over yet, Hyundai & Kia.

[GTRaavv]

Like it a lot more than I originally thought based on spy shots. Not as attractive as the Optima, but not so horribly trendy either. Should age much better.

[BLK9GEN]

Looks great to me. Certainly one of the best looking cars in its class, although the usual Hyundai/Kia haters would never admit to it. They always find something to bitch about, but never admit that most, if not all of their criticisms can be levied at pretty much every car in the segment. Lets face it, these are economy cars we are talking about, not a Corvette.

My personal ranking, in terms of design:

Forte
Focus
Elantra
Jetta
Cruze
Dart
3
Civic
Lancer
Impreza
Sentra
Corolla

I just hope they get the steering right like Hyundai seems to have done on the Elantra GT, and offer the 1.6T on the SX model. The NA 1.8 from the Elantra is passable as an economy car engine, but not as lively as the current Forte SX engine, let alone the 1.6T.

[juice]

Looks good.

Wonder if they'll add DI to this before the Elantra gets that tech?

[CP1]

Current coupe (Koup) is better.

X4

I'm hoping Kia designers keep the straight lines of the current Koup (better roofline/greenhouse, rear and taillights) but don't think that's going to happen.

My personal ranking, in terms of design:

Forte
Focus
Elantra
Jetta
Cruze
3
Civic
Lancer
Impreza
Sentra
Corolla

For me, it's...

Koup (current)
Forte (new)
Dart
Elantra sedan (has one of the better greenhouses in the segment)
Lancer
Jetta
3
Civic sedan
Focus sedan
Impreza sedan
Elantra coupe
Sentra
Corolla

[omoderncultureo]